HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1086, 10 June 1879, Page 2

HAMILTON BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Monday, Jan. 9, 1879. Present: Cr. Hume m the Chair, and Crs. Gwynne, McDonald, Gaudin, Dawson, Potter, Beale, Gaidiner and Knox. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following- is the Engineer's report ; — THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLOBS, BOROUGH OF HAMILTON. Gentlemen,' — Herewith, please receive my usual fortnightly report of progress of works : Re the Bridge, — Messrs Ross and Dunbar are now m a fair way to make rapid progress with this structure, as they have a large quantity of timber prepared and ready for erection. The piles are all driven, the concrete pier finished, two sets of main tiers erected, also two small tiers, and their temporary staging is progressing. Re Forming and Gravelling Victoriastreet, — The Contractor has completed (save maintenance) the forming, and done a very considerable amount of gravelling. I hope, by your next meeting, to have to inform you that the work is done, and hie maintenance begun. Re Culvert, Clarence-street,— l have to inform you that the Contractor ' has been engaged deepening the outlet, so as tc lower the water, before sinking to the required depth for his foundation, and had done a considerable amount oi excavation. Re Forming and Gravelling Greystreet, — The Contractor has almost completed the work included m his contract. When this is completed, his term ol maintenance will begin. I have now to report to the Council, that some of the box-drains m the above street, owing to the increased width oi the formation, required taking up and lengthening, and generally overhauling, This was necessary, so, I took upon myself the responsibility of instructing the Contractor to perform the required work. I have now to ask the Council to decide whether I exceeded my authority or not. I had no intention of so doing, but if the Council consider I have done so, the cost of tbis work, I will considei my own, and I will pay for it. I would also ask the Council to decide the limit oi my power of expenditure ? (2) Whethei it is competent for me to receive any instructions, or be interfered with by any Member of your Council, other than the Mayor or the Chairman of the Works Committee. — I have, &c, William C. Bbeakell. Hamilton, June 9, 1879. The following report of the Works Committee was then read : — MEETING OF THE WORKS COMMITTEE, BELI AT THE BOYAL HOTEL, ON THE 29T8 DAT OP MAY, 1879. Present : Cr. Gwynne (Chairman), Crs Dawson, Knox and Potter. Resolved, that we feel we have to pay the contractor for. his work for Cookstreet, but that we are also of opinion, as the Engineer has passed the works, thai the Engineer has net done the Borough justice, m passing this work, or allowing it to be contracted for, and passing it m its present state. Cr. Potter said, that the powers of the Engineer, as regards works, had been already decided. lie had simply to do with contracts under his hand, and -not to interfere with the action of the "Works Committee. Ho should have thought that the resolution to cease using day labour would have prevented the Engineer from committing the Council m that respect. The Engineer was simply employed for the works contracted for. Work so given, by day labour, had cost the Council 70 per cent, more than need have beau paid for it. He complained that Grey-street was being badly constructed, an insufficient pltph being allowed from the crown of the road, not more than 10 or 11 inches, instead of 18 inches, as was the principle laid down m road making m England and elsewhere. Cr. Gwynne objected, that these works had not yet been passed, and it was time to criticise them then. Cr. Knox thought the question of taking on day labour should be settled. He did not think the Engineer should do th^s, when the Works Committee was requested not to do so, and the Bank told them they were getting to tbe end of their tether. There was another work going on opposite Jackson's Boarding House. He would uot vote the sum asked for that work, unless sanctioned by the Works l Committee. He would put it ou ' record, that the Engineer should neither employ labour nop purchase material on his own responsibility. Cr. Hume would point out that any interference with the works going on should be made only through the Mayor or the Chairman of the Works Committee, to the Engineer. Cr. Potter explained that he had interfered on seeing box-drains being put m where there was no need for them. It was his duty to interfere where he saw the Engineer purchasing material aud employing labour which he had received no authority to purchase or employ. \ He would not, as a member of the Works Committee, see a wrong like this committed, and not interfere, lie was not going to run over the river for the Chairman, but had stopped suoh a work, and would do the same to-morrow. Qr. Hume thought Cr. Potter was going too far. He thought, under certain circumstances, the Engineer might be justified m employing labour or purchasing material, but waiving this, if interference was advisable, it must be only made through the Uhairman of the Works Committee, or the Mayor. Cr. Knox said, it was neoessary that each Works Committee should have its own chairman. He" did not think any individual Councillor should interfere. Cr. Gaudin thought the Works Committee power should bq caiy

tailed. He knew a work on the east side the river, costing more than .£2O, which the Works Committee had carried on, without contract, contrary to rule of the Council. Or. Gwynne thought all difficulties might be avoided, if the Engineer would apply at once for aiithority, and get the labour or material authorised. A letter was read from Mr Jolly, asking when t c amount due for the land required for the railway extension would be paid. The Clerk was ordered to write to Mr Jolly, saying that the transfer must be first prepared, An application was made by Messrs Price, Ridd'er and Davis, that the approach to their properties be made practicable. Or. Knox said, the new levels for Clarence-street would leave the street up on the bank, and unapproachable. Toe matter, on the recommendation of Cr. Potter, w*s referred to the Works Committee, The report of the Works Committee, on the Cook-street Contract, was read. Cr. Potter complained that the Cook-street contract had not been properly done. Cr. Hume deprecated discussion, and said that the simplest way tv get at the bottom of the matter, was to instruct the Clerk to apply to the Engineer for an explanation. Agreed to. PUBLIC ABBATOIRS. Ci\ Potter moved : That the Abbatoirs of the Borough be advertised, and that all action m establishing the same be taken under the legal advice of Messrs Whitaker and O'Neill. Seconded by Cr. Kuox, and carried unanimously. FINANCE. It was stated by the Clerk that the overdrafD at the Bank had reached the sum of £781 16s 9d. Ie was ordered ou the recommendation of Cr. Hume that a meeting 1 of the finance Committee oe held after the meeting concluded, and ou the motion of Cr. Potter, Cr. McDonald was placed ou the Finance Committee, and on the motion ot Cr. Knox, the name of Cr. Potter was placed on the By-law Committee. FERRY. It was stated that the lease of the punt would expire on the 24th iusfc. Cr. Mcdonald moved, '• That the lease be put for sale at per month until the bridge is opened." Carried. Cr. Knox moved, That Messrs Bradley and J. T>. & K. Hill be invited to tender for the sale. Carried. it was also resolved to advertise for fresh tenders for the supply of gravel, the present contract lapsing at an eaaly date. The rate of Is m the £ was confirmed, Cr. Potter moved, That all specifications, contraots, and conditions relating thereto, for work, labor, or material, either separately or collectively, shall be submitted to the joint Works Committee, for their approval and sanction, previous to tenders being invited for the same. He thought it was absolutely desirable from his experience m bhe Council that the specifications nnrl conditions should come before some executive board of tho Council. The Council should know what the public are called to tender for. The last tenders called for, the approaBb.es to the bridge, was one instance m point. Had those specifications been first referred to the Council, they would | never have been sanctioned, and a number of intending contractor* ■would have been saved trouble and expanse m providing quantities, &o Cr. Gwynne seconded the m >tion, pro forma. Cr. Knox suggested that thf Engineer should report tbe cost ot the work to the Works Committee. The Council should not call for tenders m the dark. Cr Macdonald moved, as an amendment : That all works, with plans and specifications, and the estimated cost of contract, be referred by the Engineer to a committee of this Council, previous to tenders being called for. Seconded by Cr. Gaudin. For the amendment : Crs. Beale. ' l\JL"cDonald, Gaudin and Dawson Against : Crs. Knox, Gardner, Potter, Gwynne and Hume. The original motion was then carried. Cr. Gwynne moved : That no further large contracts be entered into, beyond the approaches to bridge, until the winter is over, and the Council is m funds to undertake them. Cr. Knox would second the motion, if the formation of Ang'eseastreet, a work long promised, was made the exception. Cr. Hume said, the Council was not m a position to undertake atiy more contracts until next summer. Cr. Gwynne said, they were fast overrunning the constable. At the end of the month, the Borough would be £1000 overdrawn. Cr. Potter seconded Cr. Gwynne's motion, but would promise the Anglesea work should be the first done. Cr. Beale objected to making this promise m respect to Anglesoa Street. Cr. Hume thought m justice to the property-holders the promise should be made. Cr. Gwynne agreed to add the promise to Angleiea Street to his motion which was then carried. Sixteen tenders were received for the Bridge approaches on either side the river, as follows : — WEST SIDE. £ S. d. Lovett and Cassidy.. .. 852 14 7 J. Lees and K. Land . . 856 3 4 Livingstone and Booth (accepted) „ „ „ BX7 i$ &

J. "Wilson and J.,Deegan . . 972 16 8 W Jones 904 10 0 John llullins . . „ 1028 13 4 J. Coates . . . . . . 914 8 0 John Briton . . . . . . 1076 10 0 EAST side. Joseph Punch &J. "Williams 028 12 2 J. Wilson &J. Deegan . . 907 10 0 W. H. Kelly 698 19 2 J. Goates 755 16 8 J. Briton 799 8 4 Livingstone & Booth .. 716 5 0 Jas. (Joombes (accepted) . . 633 13 4 Lovett & Cassidy . . . . 642 510 mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmam^mam^m^mmmmmmmm ' t"T